Minor classics week in Belgium
Belgium is the land of the classics, and this week we have a good example of it with the celebration of three one-day races in the country. In this case, these are races belonging to the second division of world cycling, the UCI ProSeries, which, although not as prestigious as other Belgian events, add color and richness to a spectacular national classics calendar. These are the men's and women's races of the Danilith Nokere Koerse, which will take place on Wednesday the 15th, and the Bredene Koksijde Classic, which will take place on Friday the 17th.
Danilith Nokere Koerse women: route and favorites
The women's event of the Danilith Nokere Koerse presents a 129 km route full of hills and cobbled sectors. The final circuit, which the cyclists will have to ride 2 times, includes 6 cobbled sectors, including the Nokereberg cobbled ramp, where the finish line is located.
Favorites: Lorena Wiebes (1200), Marta Bastianelli (800), Arlenis Sierra (600), Audrey Cordon Ragot (600), Suzanne Andersen (200), Maria Giulia Confalonieri (600), Rachele Barbieri (400), Lotta Henttala (Lepistö) (200) or Anna Henderson (600) are some of the main names that we can find on the start list.
Danilith Nokere Koerse men: route and favorites
The route of the men's race is similar to that of the women's event, although the men's race includestwo more laps on the final circuit for a total of 194 km.
Favorites: Tim Merlier (800), Pascal Ackermann (600), Maximilian Walscheid (400), Victor Campenaerts (400), Gerben Thijssen (400), Edward Theuns (200), Dries de Bondt (400), Matteo Moschetti (200), Sam Welsford (200), Kristoffer Halvorsen (200), Bram Welten (200), Ethan Vernon (200) or Florian Vermeersch (200) are some of the favorites for a race that is usually decided in a bunch sprint.
Bredene Koksijde Classic: route and favorites
The hallmark of the Bredene Koksijde Classic is the ascent up the two slopes of the Kemmelberg (1.1 km at 6.6% and 1.8 km at 5.1%), although these difficulties are located 100 kilometers from the finish line, so although the race can split, it usually regroups afterwards. The presence of strong winds is also common in the famous De Moeren area, although the most common is still a sprint finish on the streets of Koksijde.
Favorites: Tim Merlier (800), Pascal Ackermann (600), Juan Sebastián Molano (600), Hugo Hofstetter (400), Stanislaw Anilkowski (400), Gerben Thijssen (400), Jason Tesson (200), Matteo Moschetti (200), Sam Welsford (200), Jakub Mareczko (200), Ethan Vernon (200), Timothy Dupont (200) or Emils Liepins (200) are some of the main sprinters on the provisional start list.
Photo: Danilith Nokere Koerse